AC Light Emitting Diode and AC LED Drive Methods and Apparatus

• US 20170238377A1
• Filed: 10/25/2016
• Published: 08/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lynk Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lynk Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Andersen, James N., Miskin, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,807,827 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/42 Antiparallel configurations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/50 responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDs; responsive to LED life; Protective circuits

Abstract

An LED device for use with an AC voltage power source configured such that at least one LED emits light during a positive phase of power provided from an AC power supply and at least one LED emits light during the negative phase of power provided from an AC power supply. The LED device includes a first power connection lead and a second power connection lead, both leads capable of being connected to and receiving power from an AC power supply.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising:

an LED circuit having at least one LED;

a bridge rectifier;

a driver connected to the bridge rectifier;

the driver providing AC voltage and current to the bridge rectifier and the bridge rectifier providing DC voltage and current to the LED circuit,

the driver having an input of a first AC voltage and a first frequency and an output of a second AC voltage and a second frequency, wherein the second frequency is a relatively higher frequency,

further wherein the driver includes a voltage regulator which regulates the second AC voltage at a relatively fixed level so long as the total output wattage of the driver is not exceeded,

a dimmer coupled to the driver, wherein the dimmer includes integrated circuitry that allows for adjustability of the level of the second AC voltage and/or the second frequency.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator is feedback voltage regulator circuitry.

3. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein the relatively fixed level of the second AC voltage is 12V.

4. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the driver further includes power factor correction circuitry.

5. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the bridge rectifier and the LED circuit are packaged together on a single substrate.

6. The lighting system of claim 5, wherein the substrate includes a heat sink material.

7. A lighting system comprising:

an LED circuit having at least one LED;

a bridge rectifier;

a driver connected to the bridge rectifier;

the driver providing AC voltage and current to the bridge rectifier and the bridge rectifier providing DC voltage and current to the LED circuit,

the driver having an input of a first AC voltage and a first frequency and an output of a second AC voltage and a second frequency, wherein the second frequency is a relatively higher frequency,

further wherein the driver includes a voltage regulator which regulates the second AC voltage at a relatively fixed level when one or more LED circuits are added to or subtracted from the Lighting System.

8. The lighting system of claim 7, wherein the voltage regulator is feedback voltage regulator circuitry.

9. The lighting system of claim 7, wherein the driver further includes power factor correction circuitry.

10. The lighting system of claim 7, wherein the bridge rectifier and the LED circuit are packaged together on a single substrate.

11. The lighting system of claim 10, wherein the substrate includes a heat sink material.

12. The lighting system of claims 7 having a dimmer coupled to the driver, wherein the dimmer includes integrated circuitry that allows for adjustability of the level of the second AC voltage and/or the second frequency.